In a tense quarterfinal match at Parc des Princes, Trinity Rodman delivered a stunning goal in the 106th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for the United States women's national team over Japan. This win propels the USWNT into the semifinals, where they will face Germany in Lyon on Tuesday.

Rodman's moment of brilliance came after a long, hot afternoon filled with frustration for the U.S. team. The 22-year-old forward took a ball down the right flank, cut inside past Japanese defender Hikaru Kitagawa, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that found the back of the net, sending the crowd, including USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe, into a frenzy.

"It was the best moment of my career," Rodman said afterward. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."

The victory ensures that the U.S. will play for a medal, a significant achievement after their disappointing exit in the round of 16 at last summer's Women's World Cup. However, the match was far from easy, as Japan's disciplined and stifling defense kept the Americans at bay for much of the game.

The decisive move began with a crossfield pass from Crystal Dunn, allowing Rodman to break down the flank and score the latest goal by the U.S. in an Olympic knockout game since Alex Morgan's late winner in the 2012 semifinals. This goal helped the Americans avoid the looming threat of a penalty shootout.

"Was it a game that was most likely to head to penalties? Yeah, absolutely," said U.S. coach Emma Hayes, who praised Japan's tactical discipline. "Their block is the best in the world. They brought out our best patience, which was the most needed skill today ... [Rodman's shot] was a world-class finish."

Throughout the match, the atmosphere at Parc des Princes, supportive of the U.S. team, was filled with tension as the Americans struggled to break through Japan's defense. Despite attempting 1,026 passes, the most by any team in the past three Olympics or past four Women's World Cups, the U.S. found it challenging to score.

Japan had their chances as well, with Mina Tanaka shooting straight at U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and Hinata Miyazawa blasting into the side-netting, increasing the pressure on the American side.

Forward Mallory Swanson emphasized the team's perseverance, saying, "I think that we just keep going. If we miss a chance, we just keep going and we keep trying something different."

Coach Hayes defended her decision not to make substitutions until the 90th minute, addressing concerns about potential fatigue. "I'm paid to do this job, so all I'm interested in is what we do in-house," she said. "I don't believe we'd have gone through if we'd have made too many changes."

In the end, the connections and resilience within the team were evident, as Dunn found Rodman, and the game shifted from exasperation to jubilation. "That," Hayes said, "was a beautiful goal."